When it comes to vape cartridges, any experienced enthusiast will tell you that the quality of the product, and the consequential results, can vary quite a bit between different brands. It can be surprising that two cartridges that look identical to one another can be wildly different in terms of how they taste, how strong their effects are, and how efficiently they vaporize – that is, produce consistently smooth and rich vapor without any clogging, dry hits, or leaks.
It’s safe to say that anyone who wants to purchase a new cannabinoid vape cart is going to want to make sure that they’re buying from a trustworthy company, who is known for offering only premium hemp products. We’re here to help you get the outstanding vaping experience that you deserve, with a simple list of 10 things to always be on the lookout for.
Before you go ahead and buy the first cannabinoid cart you can find, you’ll want to pay attention to certain things that can play a major role in how much you actually enjoy the product. Let’s break those things down now.
First off, you always want to make sure that you’re buying from a reliable, reputable manufacturer. Look around online to find out what other people have to say about the company, through third-party apps, and look at reviews for the vape carts specifically, on the company’s website. Otherwise, you can end up buying from a shady company that isn’t selling top-tier hemp – or even authentic hemp, for that matter, and that’s never a good idea.
Look carefully through the third-party lab reports to make sure that the product is totally sound. Only these lab reports can provide you with objective information through a state-licensed, unbiased laboratory, who has thoroughly tested the product for safety, purity, potency, legal compliance, and total weight of cannabinoids. These lab reports can be found on the company’s website, and also, are a vital source of info.
Of course, you want to pay attention to the cannabinoid(s) in the formula, and not overlook how much they can really vary when it comes to their effects, and how potent their psychoactive effects are. For example, Delta 8 THC is a cannabinoid that is 30% milder than Delta 9 THC, while THC-P is 10 times as intoxicating, so that’s a pretty big difference!
We strongly recommend having a good foundational idea of which cannabinoids do what, and making a decision based off of that. Of course, you can also go with cannabinoid blends, which provide you with multiple cannabinoids in one formula, in various ratios.
Cannabis vapes come in all kinds of strains – basically, companies can make vape carts in any strain that exists in the cannabis world, by extracting terpenes from actual flower. What this means is that you have literally hundreds of cultivars to choose from, whether you’re looking for a stimulating sativa, a calming indica, or something in between.
Now, when you’re buying a vape, of course you want to make sure that you’re going with a strain that’s generally going to suit your needs. This means looking through all of the different cultivars that are available, reading up on them, and choosing the one that makes sense of the type of ‘high’ you’re looking for. Never underestimate just how much strains can differ from one another!
While it’s not a necessity, we do recommend that you look at the type of extract that’s used in the vape cartridge, as there are different options out there. “Dry resin” is the most popular, and it’s a full-spectrum extract that comes from dry-cured cannabis flower. While this type of extract can be highly effective, there are other options that can be more potent, pure, and flavorful.
Live resin is a popular choice, as it’s extracted from fresh, flash-frozen flower, and this means that it retains a higher level of terpenes. Even more potent is live rosin, which is a solvent-free concentrate made by applying pressure and heat to freshly flash-frozen flower buds. Liquid diamonds are a super sought-after choice for THCA vapes in particular, consisting of crystallized THCA diamonds (the purest form of the cannabinoid there is) along with “sauce,” a potent terpene concentrate.
Always check the construction of the vape cartridge to make sure that it’s generally built well. The best carts are made of borosilicate glass, which is very durable and doesn’t negatively impact flavor. Make sure that the 510-threaded connection isn’t flimsy, and that the mouthpiece is sturdy and would be comfortable against the lips. Check for weak areas, too, where leaks might occur.
The best hemp used for any vape will be organically grown, as this means that it’s free of pesticides, and sourced locally, as the less the hemp has to travel, the fresher it is at the time of extraction. This can, in fact, make a huge difference in terms of the potency as well, as industrial hemp that is not grown organically may not retain its full chemical composition, and if it’s traveled quite a bit, it may have degraded while in transit. Hemp that’s grown in the US is also held to stricter standards, which is why many cheaper companies outsource their hemp from other countries, to save money.
You should never, ever buy a vape cartridge that contains any ingredients other than hemp derivatives. Additives and fillers simply serve no purpose in a vape, and simply exist to cut costs. The one exception is when a company uses another active ingredient in their vape, like amanita extract, or blue lotus flower extract, to produce specific, desirable effects.
Stay clear of any vape that contains PG (propylene glycol), PEG (polyethylene glycol), VG (vegetable glycerin), or MCT oil (a derivative of coconut oil). While these ingredients aren’t necessarily harmful in regular doses, they don’t contribute to the quality of the product in any way, and simply dilute the effects.
More importantly, strictly avoid any vapes made with vitamin E. This additive has been linked to dangerous health effects, including death, when inhaled.
Always check the quantity of the vape oil in the cartridge, and the price. Companies may try to fool you by selling a .3 gram cartridge at the price a full gram ordinarily costs, hoping you won’t notice that their carts come in a below-average size. The exact price of a standard cartridge is going to be hard to find, as there are too many variables, including the strain, cannabinoid, and the type of extract used. But, overall, comparing prices can help you avoid getting duped.
Finally, make a point to see if there’s any info about the coil. The coil in a vape cartridge is the heating element, which heats the vape oil through the battery’s power, to convert it into vapor. This tiny metal component may seem insignificant, but how it’s constructed, its resistance level, and the material used to make it can all play a role in your vaping experience, in terms of flavor, vapor production, longevity, and even leaks.
By and large, it’s best to find a company that uses a ceramic coil in their vaping products. Ceramic coils are considered the best for these types of products, because they preserve the flavor of the terpenes, retain heat beautifully without burning the vape oil, and allow for smooth, thick vapor. Ceramic coils typically last longer than other materials as well, which means that your cartridge is less likely to burn out prematurely while there’s still vape oil left in it.
At the end of the day, some vape cartridges are simply more likely to give you the effects and flavor that you want than others. There’s something to be said about the various ways to construct a vape cart, too, which can determine how long the cart lasts, whether or not it leaks, and if it’s prone to clogging.
Ultimately, if you want to enjoy a vaping experience that gives you the high you’re looking for, tastes clean and delicious, and promises the reliability you deserve down to the last drop, you’ll need to consider all of these things above. And the good news is that HiXotic’s Vape Cartridges are considered some of the most reputable on the hemp marketplace, offering nothing but standout quality, from the extraction methods used for the cannabinoids and terpenes, to the premium coil technology that keeps that vapor flowing smoothly all day long.
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